President Nana Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians of his commitment to hand over a country that is greater, fairer, stronger, more cohesive, more prosperous and more united than how he met it in 2017 to his successor.

Although optimistic this will happen in 2025, he said it is birth Ghanaians have to be protected against ethnocentrism and anything that divide them on political and religious lines.

As a result, he has made a solemn pledge to ensure that this year’s election is conducted free, fair and transparent and in a manner that the outcome will be acceptable, forms a good basis for strengthening cohesion among the Ghanaian citizenry and preventing needless dispute.

The President was speaking at the Annual Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) held under the theme “Enhancing national cohesion: The essence free, fair and responsible electoral process” held Monday in Accra.

“I can assure you and the Ghanaian people that efforts are being made by government to ensure that peace and stability of Ghanaians as we enter this last few months of the electioneering year.

“Ghana has rightly earned the reputation as the pace setter in democratic governance on the continent; a reputation it will hold before, during and after December 7,” he stated.

 The President added that from 1992 to date, the conduct of the country’s elections has evolved significantly and the change has encompassed the current multiplicity of media organisations and the power of social media and the existence of transparent ballot boxes and tallying and tabulation of results are decentralised at the polling station.

The changes in the country’s electoral process also include the mode of voter verification, which was initially thumbprint to black and white photograph identification card then changed into coloured ones and now biometric ID with an improved facial recognition features.

All these, he said were to build Ghanaians confidence and trust in the process of electing their leaders as well as to strengthen the cohesion of the nation.

Seemingly, individual and group differences had compelled some people to believe in a fallacy that democratic governance would breed instability and ethnic conflict.

This, President Akufo-Addo noted “There have been those who went as far as to state that democracy was inherently alien to our culture and social make-up. The continuous success of the fourth Republic provides the most effective response to this unfortunate viewpoint.”

With electoral disputes wreaking havoc in some African countries, Akufo-Addo stated that, Ghana has been spared such incidents.

“We have the good sense of the Ghanaian people to thank for this, and we must continue to act as checks and balances for one another.”

Nonetheless, the President noted that Ghanaians cannot and must not take this good fortune for granted, urging all candidates, voters and citizens to conduct themselves in a manner that keeps us together as one people, irrespective of our ethnic, religious, gender or political differences and affiliations.

He said: “The Ghana Project cannot afford ethnic agitations and sectarian pronouncements.”

The Chief Justice, His Lordship Anin Yeboah said the citizens need to be proud of themselves as Ghana is a shining example in Africa and to the world, as a result of its electoral laws and proceedings for addressing electoral dispute and others.

He added that the citizenry must ensure that this success continue, while they take pride for their effort of ensuring peaceful electoral process for the past 28 years.

Justice Anin Yeboah urged political parties to play their part including the Bar, stakeholders and every citizens to protect the country’s democracy, peace and stability.       

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Gloria Afua Akuffo on her part added that when elections are free, fair and responsible they serve as agents political integration and provide a unifying focus for the country.

She, however, noted that when elections are debased through apathy, voter suppression, deliberate disenfranchisement, undue influence and voter intimidate, rigging, resort to opaque voting methods, electoral rule violations, irregularities and malpractice and even recourse to violence, the popular will is repressed.

According to her, this could trigger a dangerous spiral of political instability, violation insurgency and downright national disintegration and socio-economic decay, adding “A free and fair election take place when arrangements exist for a secret ballot by eligible citizens only…”           

The President of Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Anthony Forson underscored the importance for all processes leading up to elections, declaration of results and every activity of the Electoral Commission should be conducted to endanger trust.

He admonished the media to be circumspect in the reportage of political activities and their conduct should be in the promotion of peace and unity of the country.